BERNARDO O'HIGGINS

When there is examined the life of the father of our mother country, it is worthy of admiration the straight continuity of an existence consecrated to an ideal, that he considered great and noble: the service to Chile. His trajectory of public man makes an impression by the renouncement he always made of finery as opposed to all those contingencies that, despite meaning honors or money to him, sacrificed without doubts nor hesitations, before which considered an alternative superior, and that it was, simply, the one of love to the mother country.

He was born in August 20th. 1778 in Chillán Viejo. His father was an Irish to the service of the Spanish Crown, that was Intendant of Conception, Ambrosio O'Higgins, and his mother, Isabel Riquelme. In 1778 Ambrosio O'Higgins is named Governor of Chile and sent to study to the Colegio de Naturales in Chillán, and soon later to the aristocratic Colegio San Carlos de Lima. On 1794 he was sent to Spain ( Cadiz) to the house of his tutor, Nicolas de la Cruz. Few months later he was sent to England, to the Spencer and Perkins house (manufacturers of clocks). He perfected his studies in an academy of Richmond, near London. There he knew Francisco Miranda, precursor of the Hispanic independence, that taught him the ideas of liberty and advice, that would serve to him taking active part in the fight from emancipation in our country. He returned to Cadiz in 1779, embarking from there to Chile on April 3rd. 1880, in the frigate Confianza. This frigate is captured by an English ship, having to return to its port of origin. .So he stays in Cadiz by two more years. When receiving the letter of the death of his father in Lima, in March 18th. 1801, decides to return to Chile, arriving at Valparaíso in September 6th. 1802.
When dying his father , O'Higgins inherits the Hacienda Las Canteras and more than 4,000 heads of cattle. He was chosen mayor of Chillán in 1806, and assistant representative of the Island of Laja in 1810 Conscious of his lack of military preparation, he asked to Colonel Juan Mackenna for that instruction. Done it, he organized the farmers of his property for the combat, and formed in Chillán a military body of insurgents. Also participated in meetings with Martinez de Rozas who, as a representative of Logia de Cadiz, prepared the appropriate atmosphere of independence.
In October 17th. 1813, in the battle El Roble, next to borders of the river Itata, Jose Miguel Carrera had to flee by swimming to avoid to be taken prisoner. Nevertheless, in the middle of the confusion, O'Higgins arose his soldiers taking the gun from a died soldier, encouraging them with a shout: " Or to live with honor or to die with glory ", turning the defeat of the first moments into a victory for the patriotic ones. By discrepancies with the Governing body, Jose Miguel Carrera resigned and proposed to O'Higgins as the Army Commander-in-Chief.
He faced the royalist troops in the combats of El Quilo, El Membrillar, Tres Montes and Guajardo, obtaining successive victories for the patriotic cause. In Quechereguas he forced the royalist troops to retire to Talca.
In June 23rd. 1814, Carrera overthrows to Francisco de la Lastra and is constituted in the President of the Governing body. O'Higgins is against this decision, and marches with his forces towards Santiago, being defeated in the combat of Tres Acequias by Luis Carrera, in August 1814. He takes refuge in the property of Paula Jaraquemada, but due to the disembarkation of Spanish Brigadier Mariano Osorio and his advance towards Talca, O'Higgins subordinates his forces to those of Jose Miguel Carrera.
In October 1st. 1814, Mariano Osorio with his troops initiated the crossing of the Cachapoal river and O'Higgins and Juan Jose Carrera took refuge in the seat of Rancagua. Even though O'Higgins had minor graduation that Juan Jose Carrera, at the request of this one assumed the control and the defense of the seat, that was surrounded by the Spanish troops. Jose Miguel Carrera went with the reserve division, but he was rejected by the royalist troops. Being passed more than 36 hours from the beginning of the combat, and the ammunition exhausted, O'Higgins decided to break the wall and, followed by Ramon Freire Serrano, ordered to mount to horse and to open passage through the enemy itself, before the overwhelmed royalist followers. This fact closed the period of the Old Mother country, and the patriotic ones had to emigrate to Mendoza to prepare the reconquest. In February 16th. 1817, after the patriotic triumph at Battle of Chacabuco, the open Town hall proclaimed to Bernardo O'Higgins as a Supreme Director.
He promoted the creation of schools, libraries, hospitals, cemeteries and planned the urbanization of the cities. Also created the Military School and the Academy of Naval cadets. It was reopened the National Institute, founded the National Library, he ordered the composition of a new National Song and the Army Shield of the Republic. Also founded the Order to the Merit, in replacement of the nobility titles that were suppressed. O'Higgins glimpsed that the power of a National Fleet could sweep the Spanish Navy from the Pacific Ocean, and that only then the patriotic troops protected by that naval force, would immobilize the Spanish armies, facilitating their defeat and consolidating definitively the independence of Ibero-America.
He soon begins to organize and to finance the Liberating Expedition to Peru, with troops of General Jose de San Martín y Matorras, who had resigned to their dependency of the United Provinces and they had put themselves to the orders of the government of Chile, and with troops enlisted by the Government.
O'Higgins had the great success to contract Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane, who with his boldness, flood of glory to the national pavilion with his attacks to El Callao, the capture of La Esmeralda, the capture of Corral and Valdivia. Lord Cochrane managed to destroy the Spanish naval power in the Pacific, obtaining the sea superiority for the rising nation.
Once obtained the Independence of Peru, and having happened some facts that dimmed his government, as the execution in Mendoza of the brothers Juan Jose and Luis Carrera (May 8th. 1818), the murder of Manuel Rodriguez (May 26th. 1818), the execution of Jose Miguel Carrera in Mendoza (September 4th. 1821), the arbitrary policy of minister Rodriguez Aldea and the Logia Lautarina, among other causes,determined the rise of the provinces requesting his resignation as Supreme Director.

Nació el 15 de octubre de 1785 y sus padres fueron el Coronel de Milicias Reales, Ignacio de la Carrera y Cuevas y doña Francisca de Paula Verdugo Fernández de Valdivieso y Herrera. Es el tercero de cuatro hermanos: Javiera , Juan José, y Luis Florentino Juan Manuel Silvestre de los Dolores. Sus primeros estudios los realizó en el Colegio Carolino, donde fue compañero de Manuel Rodriguez Ordaiza. A los 9 años ingresó como cadete al Regimiento de Caballería del Príncipe y en 1797 ya era Alférez. Luego en 1805 era Teniente. Su padre lo envía a Lima a cargo de un tío suyo. En la capital peruana es arrestado en la fragata Castor, desde donde se fuga a Chile. En 1806 viaja a España y se enrola en el ejército, efectuando las campañas de 1808, 1809 y principios de 1810, participando en más de 20 hechos de armas, tales como la ocupación de la ciudad de Mora, retirada de Consuegra, combates de Yébenes y en las Batallas de Talavera y de Ocaña, donde fue herido el 19 de noviembre de 1809. Ascendió a Sargento Mayor del Regimiento Húsares de Galicia. Regresó a Chile el 25 de julio de 1811. El 4 de septiembre de 1811 participó en un complot que llevó a la familia Larraín al gobierno. Luego realizó otro movimiento que lo llevó a formar parte de una nueva Junta de Gobierno, representando a la provincia de Santiago. La disolución del Congreso, el 2 de diciembre de 1811 lo enemistó con don Juan Martinez de Rozas, representante de Concepción, lo cual casi desencadena la guerra civil. La mediación de Bernardo O'Higgins evitó el conflicto y José Miguel Carrera fue nombrado Presidente de Gobierno.
Dentro de las muchas obras realizadas se pueden indicar las siguientes: Por Decreto de 16 de enero de 1812 autorizó la instalación de la prensa, nombrando redactor a fray Camilo Henríquez, sancionó la primera Constitución Política de la República ( 1812), creó la primera bandera nacional y el primer escudo de armas, creó el hoy Instituto Nacional, dispuso la creación de escuelas en los monasterios y el mejoramiento de los hospitales.
En marzo de 1813, al tener conocimiento del desembarco del Brigadier Antonio Pareja, enviado por el Virrey del Perú a sofocar la emancipación de Chile, asumió como General en Jefe del Ejército y combatió en Yerbas Buenas, San Carlos, Talcahuano y puso en sitio la ciudad de Chillán, desde donde se tuvo que retirar por no contar con los medios adecuados. En enero de 1814 le sucede en el mando del Ejército, el Brigadier Bernardo O'Higgins. Una vez entregado el mando en Concepción, al dirigirse a Santiago es hecho prisionero por los españoles, pero logra fugarse. El 23 de julio de 1814 encabeza una revuelta que depone al Director Supremo, Francisco de la Lastra y asume en su reemplazo.
Desconocido como Director Supremo, se enfrenta a O'Higgins en el combate de Las Tres Acequias. Al conocerse la noticia del desembarco del Brigadier Mariano Osorio enviado por el Virrey del Perú, ambos se unen, pero la falta de materiales de guerra y la celeridad de Osorio, impiden una buena organización y se produce el "Desastre de Rancagua", donde son batidas las fuerzas patriotas encabezadas por O'Higgins. Emigra a Mendoza con los restos de su Ejército, donde se enemista con el Gobernador y por ello tomado prisionero y enviado a Buenos Aires. Desde allí viaja a EE.UU.de N.A. en busca de ayuda para reconquistar Chile. Se entrevistó con el Presidente de esa nación James Madison y muchas personalidades influyentes y gracias al apoyo del Comodoro Davis Porter , logró organizar una escuadrilla de cuatro buques en los que izó el pabellón nacional y embarcó una considerable cantidad de armas, municiones y pertrechos y una brillante oficialidad extranjera. Arribó a Buenos Aires en enero de 1816, donde el Director Supremo de las Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata, Brigadier Juan Martín de Pueyrredón le retiene las naves y lo somete a prisión. Nuevamente se fuga y se dirige a Montevideo y recibe la protección del General portugués Carlos Federico Lecor. Allí conoce del asesinato de sus hermanos por el Gobernador Toribio Luziriaga y por Bernardo Monteagudo, efectuado en Mendoza.
En 1819, desde Montevideo manda panfletos a Buenos Aires y a las Provincias Unidas, propiciando el estado federativo y denunciando los intentos de José de San Martín y Juan Martín de Pueyrredón de establecer una monarquía. Expulsado de Montevideo, se une a los caudillos de las provincias del norte de Buenos Aires y vencen a las fuerzas de Pueyrredón, instalando en el poder a Manuel de Sarratea , amigo suyo, quien establece el estado federativo, que se mantiene hasta hoy.
Nuevos movimientos revolucionarios lo obligan a huir hacia las tolderías de los indios de Ranqueles, que lo nombran Pichi Rey. Tratando de regresar a Chile, vence al Gobernador de Mendoza y al Jefe de las fuerzas de San Luis y mantiene su supremacía en la región, a pesar de los varios intentos por derrotarlo. Conocedor O'Higgins del peligro que Carrera representaba para su gobierno, si lograba pasar a Chile, envió medios para reforzar a sus opositores. El 21 de agosto de 1821 es derrotado en El Médano y retirándose hacia Jocolí es traicionado por el Comandante cordobés Manuel Arias y es hecho prisionero. Conducido a Mendoza es procesado por un tribunal militar y condenado a muerte. El 4 de septiembre de 1821 es fusilado un gran patriota, cuyas obras perduran hasta hoy. Como una expiación por lo sucedido, el Gobierno de Chile hizo grabar sobre su tumba: "LA PATRIA A LOS CARRERA , AGRADECIDA DE SUS SERVICIOS Y COMPADECIDA DE SUS DESGRACIAS".

JOSE MIGUEL CARRERA Y VERDUGO

"Carrera was 35 years old, tall, of black hair, wide front, black and penetrating eyes, aquiline nose. He was honorable, enterprising and brave; franc with his friends, free of dissimulation or envies, extremely generous and compassive. His character was smooth and equal; neither the adversity nor the good fortune could disturb the elevation of his soul. His humanity was so excessive, that it almost did not deserve the virtue name, because transferring the limits that the prudence prescribes, degenerated in an inexplicable lack or weakness. An enemy, by criminal who was, was deal with the same generosity and compassion. Still the assassins of our companions were saved, offering therefore the occasion to continue them making us bad. That magnanimity that it would have immortalized Carrera anywhere of the world, was lost in America, where such virtue is little well-known and less is practiced. Their enemies attributed his generosity to the fear, and in some of his public papers he had the imprudence to call cowardly to whom with 150 men and few resources of its genius, had made vacillate the governments and governors from the Atlantic to the Pacific ".

He was born on October 15th. 1785, and his parents were Colonel of Real Military services Ignacio de la Carrera y Cuevas and Francisca de Paula Verdugo Fernandez de Valdivieso y Herrera. He is the third of four brothers: Javiera, Juan Jose, and Luis. He made his first studies in the Colegio Carolino, where he was companion of Manuel Rodriguez Erdoyza. At 9 years old he entered as a cadet at the Regiment of Cavalry of the Prince and in 1797 he was already Lieutenant. His father sent him to Lima in charge of an uncle of his. In the Peruvian capital he is arrested in the Castor frigate, from where he flights to Chile. In 1806 he travels to Spain and enlists in the army, carrying out the campaigns of 1808, 1809 and principles of 1810, participating in more than 20 facts of arms, such as the occupation of the city of Mora, retired of Consuegra, combats of Yévenes and in the battles of Talavera and Ocaña, where he was hurt in November 19th. 1809. He was promoted to sergeant major of the Húsares of Galicia. He returned to Chile in July 25th. 1811. In September 4th. 1811 he participated in a plot that launched the family Larraín to the government. Soon he made another movement that took it to comprise of a new Governing body, representing the province of Santiago. The dissolution of the Congress in December 2 of 1811, put him against to Juan Martinez de Rozas, representative of Conception, fact that almost unleashes the civil war. Bernardo O'Higgins mediation avoided the conflict and Jose Miguel Carrera was named President of the Government. Within many of his works it is possible to remark the following ones :by decree of January 16th. 1812, was authorized the installation of the press, naming fray Camilo Henríquez as editor; he sanctioned the first Political Constitution of Chile (1812)
He created the first national flag and the first shield of arms; he created the present National Institute, it had the creation of schools in the monasteries and the improvement of the hospitals.
In March 1813, when having knowledge of the disembarkation of the Brigadier Antonio Pareja, sent by the Viceroy of Peru to choke the emancipation in Chile, assumed as Commander in chief of the Army and fought in Yerbas Buenas, San Carlos, Talcahuano and put in site to the city of Chillán, from where he had to retire, for not t counting on the suitable resources. In January 1814 , Brigadier Bernardo O'Higgins gets the control of the Army. Once given the control in Conception, when going to Santiago, is done prisoner by the Spaniards, but he manages to escape itself. In July 23rd. 1814 he heads a revolt that demotes to the Supreme Director Francisco de la Lastra, and assumes in his replacement. Not recognized as Supreme Director, he faces O'Higgins in the combat of Las Tres Acequias. When knowing itself news of the disembarkation of Brigadier Mariano Osorio, sent by the Viceroy of Peru, both are united, but the lack of military materials and the speed of Osorio, prevent a good organization. In Rancagua, the patriotic forces of O'Higgins are overcome by the realists Carrera emigrates to Mendoza with the rest of their army, where he gets enemy of the governor, and for that reason it is taken prisoner and envoy to Buenos Aires.
From there he travels to the United States in search of aid to reconquer Chile. Met to influential President James Madison and many personalities. Due to the support of Commodore Davis Porter managed to organize a squadron of four boats in which it hoisted the national pavilion and it embarked a great amount of arms, the ammunition, equipment and an important foreign official. He arrived to Buenos Aires in January 1816, where the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the River of the Silver, Brigadier Juan Martín de Pueyrredón retains the ships to him and puts him under it prison. He escapes and goes again to Montevideo, where he receives the protection of the Portuguese general Carlos Federico Lecor.
There he finds out of the murder of his brothers by the Governor Toribio Luziriaga and Bernardo Monteagudo, carried out in Mendoza. In 1819, from Montevideo he sends letters to Buenos Aires and the United Provinces, causing the federal state and denouncing the attempts of Jose de San Martín and Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, to establish a monarchy. Expelled from Montevideo, he unites the leaders of the provinces of the north of Buenos Aires and overcomes the forces of Pueyrredón, installing in the power to Manuel de Sarratea, friend of his, who establishes the federal state that stays until today. New revolutionary movements forced him to flee towards the Indians of Ranqueles, where was named Pichi Rey.

GENERAL BLANCO ENCALADA

Was born in Buenos Aires in April 21st. 1790. His parents, both of noble ancestry, were Don Manuel Lorenzo Blanco Cicerón, of Spanish nationality, and Mercedes Calvo de Encalada y Recabarren, of Chilean nationality. Faced the dilemma to choose his own mother country, Blanco Encalada did hesitated nor a moment in choosing the Earth of its mother, is to say to Chile, as his earth to which he served as the most loving of its children. When fulfilling 12 years her mother decides to give a careful education and she sends him to Spain. In 1807 already he was built-in to Spanish navy like Lieutenant. The following year it managed to be destined to the naval Post station El Callao.
Shortly after the emancipator movement in La Plata and soon in Chile exploded, showing Blanco from a first moment, predisposition in favor of the mentioned process. In 1813 he took the way from Chile, arriving at Santiago when the news of the disembarkation of the Brigadier finished being received Antonio Pareja in Talcahuano. He immediately got up the patriotic army. General Jose Miguel Carrera destined him to the artillery gun, and the construction and repair of canyons, organizing Blanco the first arsenal and factory of arms that the country had. After the battle of Maipú April 5 1818, was named lieutenant effective colonel of his army. After Maipu´, O'Higgins and his minister Zenteno were worried to prepare a fleet, fundamental to obtain the sea superiority and this one to assure this independence. In June 28 1818, with the degree of First Class Captain of Navy, and also named Blanco Encalada as temporary Commander-in-chief of the Department of Navy, with seat in Valparaiso, being in charge of the organization of an Academy of Naval cadets, to form officials, and the recruitment of English and North American foreign sailors, in individual.
Later, the Government gave to him the control of all the Fleet. In such circumstances he received his fire baptism, the frigate Maria Isabel. Despite to have been the founder of the Fleet, of the success of the naval action before referred, in a gesture that ennobles him, Blanco allowed in being the second under the command of Admiral Lord Cochrane. At his request, Blanco was transferred to the army, assuming as Temporary Head of the General Staff and Commander-in-chief of Arms of Santiago, in June 7th. 1820. In September 7th. of that same year, the Senate confers to him the honor of the Field Marshal investiture. The final campaign of Blanco was his expedition to Chiloé, the last Hispanic bastion in Chile. There, at the front of Fleet, he leads the forces of General Ramon Freire Serrano. Finished the management of Freire as Supreme Director, the Congress chose Blanco Encalada as President of the Republic, in July 1826.
With occasion of the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, Blanco was named Army Commander-in-Chief. His participation in the first campaign of the mentioned conflict meant to him to be put under the military justice, although he was acquitted. From that moment, Blanco retired to his private life. Despite his outpost age, this old soldier of Independence offered his services to the government as a sailor, when happen the war against Spain. In September 5th. 1876, with the tranquility of a hero the Vice-admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada, that outstanding insigne sailor, military man, diplomat, first President of the Republic and Head of the First National Square, passed away.

Cochrane logró importantes victorias, siendo una de ellas la toma de Corral y Valdivia, dirigió personalmente la operación, hasta obtener la caída de esta plaza, entre el 3 al 4 de febrero de 1820. El 20 de agosto de 1820 zarpó la Expedición Libertadora del Perú. Cochrane reactivó el bloqueo a El Callao y en la noche del 5 al 6 de noviembre de 1820 realizó otra hazaña que inmortalizaría su nombre: la captura de la fragata "Esmeralda", hecho que significó la neutralización del poder naval español. Más tarde, Cochrane pidió licencia para retirarse a su hacienda de Quintero. Así, recibe el ofrecimiento del Emperador del Brasil, Don Pedro I, para comandar su escuadra en contra de la flota portuguesa. , considerando que el poder naval de España en el Pacífico había terminado, aceptó dicha proposición. Pidió una licencia temporal.

En Brasil, preocupó el dominio del mar, también se encargó de la construcción naval y la organización de la Armada. Regresó a Inglaterra en 1825, para pasar a Grecia en 1827, que luchaba por su independencia contra los turcos. Vuelve nuevamente a Inglaterra, donde se reincorpora a la Armada en 1830. En 1851 se le otorga el rango de Almirante del Reino Unido.